Eduard Devrient came from a family of actors. Ludwig Devrient
was his uncle and his brother Karl married the famous actress
Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient. He studied in Berlin where he
performed Gluck, Mozart, Beethoven and Weber at the opera houses.

After he lost his singing voice he turned to acting,
directing and writing. In 1848 he published "Geschichte der
deutschen Schauspielkunst" and in 1852 he became the manager
of the Hoftheater in Karlruhe. Under his direction many Wagner
opera's were performed there. He retired in 1870. His son Otto
was also active in the theatre world.